Enhancing EFL University Students' Speaking Skills Through Project-Based Learning: Authentic Conversations with English-Speaking Visitors in Jakarta
Abstract
Speaking remains one of the most challenging language skills for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students due to their limited opportunities to engage in authentic communication outside the classroom. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Project-Based Learning in enhancing EFL students' speaking skills through real world interviews with English-speaking visitors at tourist attractions. The study was conducted in the Social Conversation course involving second-semester English Literature students. As part of the project, students designed interview questions based on assigned themes and conducted five to ten-minute interviews with English-speaking visitors at various tourist attractions in Jakarta. This study employed a mixed-methods design by combining quantitative data from pre-tests and post-tests with qualitative data obtained from students' reflective journals. Students' speaking performance was assessed based on fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. The findings revealed a significant improvement in students' speaking skills after participating in the project. Qualitative findings further indicated that authentic interactions increased students' confidence, reduced speaking anxiety, and enhanced their ability to communicate spontaneously, improvise during conversations, and adapt to different English accents. The study concludes that Project-Based Learning through real-world interviews effectively enhances speaking skills while preparing students to communicate confidently in English-speaking contexts.
Keywords
References
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i5.3262
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